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All set for the unveiling

Colour and pomp: A child holding the Kannada flag at Jeeva Park in Ayanavaram, Chennai,where the Sarvajna statue (in the background) is installed.

Staff Reporter

Sarvajna statue: Yeddyurappa to do the honours in Chennai

CHENNAI: The stage is all set for the unveiling of Kannada poet Sarvajna’s statue at Jeeva Park in Ayanavaram here on Thursday.

The nine-foot panchaloha sculpture will be unveiled by Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in the presence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and a host of Ministers and officials from both the States. The ceremony, organised by the Tamil Nadu Government, will be held at RPF Grounds in Integral Coach Factory, which is nearly a kilometre away from the Jeeva Park as there is no open space around the park.

The park itself is located opposite to Kannada Krupa that houses Kannada Sangha Nursery and Primary School. The 750 kg statue, sculpted by Promodhini Deshpande from Yelwala near Mysore, stands on an 11-foot pedestal in the 760 sq mt. park. The area around the triangular park is festooned with several banners in Kannada, Tamil and English, put up by various Kannada organisations and political parties. The traditional red and yellow Kannada flags flutter colourfully on the railings.

Nearly 200 tonnes of stone from the Koira quarry near Devanahalli has been used to refurbish the park. Some 40 sculptors have been working night and day to get the park ready in time for the inauguration. The Kolar Division of the Public Works Department took 20 days to renovate the park at an estimated cost of Rs. 60 lakh. Among the works undertaken are the installation of focus lights, decorative lights, landscaping and grill makeover.

Attavar Ramdas, president of the Kannada Sneha Sangha, said seating arrangements have been made for 10,000 people. Members from eight Chennai-based Kannada Sanghas will take part in the function.

Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will be felicitated for his role in allotting the park for installation of the statue in 1997. Ms. Deshpande and her team will also be felicitated.

On the occasion, Sarvajna’s vachanas, that have been translated to Tamil by the International Institute of Tamil Studies, will be distributed. The Neyveli Kannada Sangha members will sing Kannada Nadageete.